Cobre graduates spurred to action

Speeches at Friday’s Cobre High School graduation ceremony formed a collective call to action for graduates of the Class of 2018.

Guest speaker and teacher Marlene Law’s classes bookend students’ experience at Cobre High. She has them as freshmen and again as seniors.

“Once you enter my class in Room 110, you’re always one of my kids,” she said. “Cobre kids have heart. I have seen your kindness and compassion. I have also seen you fail from time to time. But I’ve never seen you give up.”

Law urged graduates to let that resilient spirit fuel them and to experience as much of the world as they can.

“Graduates, don’t stop now,” she said. “Pitch your tent in the land of hope and do something in this world. The world needs more everyday heroes — people who live with heart. See the world. It’s greater than anything made in factories. Every story you’ve ever connected with, every hero you’ve ever admired, every puny or great thing you’ve ever accomplished is the result of taking action.”

Valedictorian Emmarie Ryan continued that theme of action and initiative.

“Go out and chase excellence,” she told her classmates. “It will never chase you first.”

As with every class, Cobre’s Class of 2018 was full of characters. Many danced their way across the gym floor when their names were called, cheered on loudly by loved ones.

“I find it ironic that teachers spent four years trying to keep me quiet and now asked me to speak,” said Salutatorian Markus Flores.

Cobre Superintendent Robert Mendoza took the job five years ago, when the 71-student Class of 2018 were eighth-graders.

“You were looking forward to your eighth-grade completion ceremony, calling it graduation,” he said. “I think you know now, this is the real graduation.”